MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A church whose congregation dates back 144 years caught fire over the weekend in rural western Minnesota during a thunderstorm and was destroyed.
Bethel Lutheran Church caught fire early Saturday evening about 11 miles south of Battle Lake and “began to collapse before the fire was totally extinguished,” read a statement from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office.
No injuries were reported.
The Star Tribune reports the Rev. Todd Hylden believes lightning caused the blaze.
The church has about 150 members. Worship services scheduled for late Sunday morning have been moved to the parking lot next to the charred rubble of the church, whose congregation was formed in 1876.
PIANO END ARTICLE RECO
Please read our comment policy before commenting.